Meet our herd of Myotonic Goats

Fainted!
Fainted!

Fainting Goats

This breed has several names- the most common are Myotonic, Tennessee Fainting, Nervous, and Scare goats. The names refer specifically to myotonia congenita, a condition in which the muscle cells experience prolonged contraction when the goat is startled. The transitory stiffness associated with these contractions can cause the goat to stop moving, stiffen, and even fall down. This is not a true faint, but a muscular phenomenon unrelated to the nervous system. The actual degree of stiffness may vary widely from goat to goat and is based on a number of factors, including age, species purity, and degree of fright.

 

As strange as this may sound, these little critters have actually served an historical purpose. Shepherds often kept the goats in with their flocks as insurance in case of predator attacks. The theory went something like this- as wolves would come down from the hills to attack a flock of sheep, the goats would become startled and, as per the name of their breed, they would faint. The sheep would make a clean getaway, as the wolves would focus on the stunned goats rather than pursue the fleeing sheep. Not that wonderful if you were one of the goats, sure, but downright dandy if you happened to be a sheep.

Our Fainting Goats at Sink Hollow Farm are listed below


CANDY                          DOB 04/21/15                 MGR D1989

Candy - Blue and white; horned; blue eyed
Candy - Blue and white; horned; blue eyed

Shopping Shirley         DOB 02/26/16              MGR C8539

Shopping Shirley is Peacock pattern Red, Black, White; Polled; Brown eyed
Shopping Shirley is Peacock pattern Red, Black, White; Polled; Brown eyed

Dapple Apple               DOB 03/10/17            MGR D7810

Black, white heavilty moonspotted tan and chocolate.  Swiss bar markings to her cute face.  Brown eyed.
Black, white heavilty moonspotted tan and chocolate. Swiss bar markings to her cute face. Brown eyed.

Henny Penny                DOB 04/19/17             MGR D7802

Penny is Red, Polled, Marble eyed
Penny is Red, Polled, Marble eyed

PAISLEY                        DOB 04/30/17                MGR D3307

Paisley is Black & White; Polled; Blue eyed
Paisley is Black & White; Polled; Blue eyed

WONDER                       DOB 03/27/18               MGR D7808

Wonder is Moonspotted Black, White, Tan; Horned; Marble eyed
Wonder is Moonspotted Black, White, Tan; Horned; Marble eyed

Heaven's to Betsy   DOB 03/17/2020          MGR E5439

Betsy is Moonspotted Black, cream, chocolate, tan, silver; Horned; Blue eyed
Betsy is Moonspotted Black, cream, chocolate, tan, silver; Horned; Blue eyed

Mini Pearl                        DOB 3/22/20             MGR E5437

Mini Pearl is Peacock pattern blue, white with Chocolate moonspots; Horned; Blue eyed
Mini Pearl is Peacock pattern blue, white with Chocolate moonspots; Horned; Blue eyed

Whoops-a-Daisy            DOB 3/23/20             MGR E5425

Whoops-a-Daisy Blue, white, tan; Horned; Marble eyed
Whoops-a-Daisy Blue, white, tan; Horned; Marble eyed

Coat of Many Colors Dolly             DOB 3/24/20             MGR 5436

Dolly is heavily moonspotted Black, white, tan, chocolate; Horned; Marble eyed
Dolly is heavily moonspotted Black, white, tan, chocolate; Horned; Marble eyed

Opal                                    DOB 3/8/21            MGR E9399

Blue, white, with chocolate moonspots; Horned; blue eyed
Blue, white, with chocolate moonspots; Horned; blue eyed

Honey Crisp                    DOB 3/22/21           MGR E9400

Black, white, tan with chocolate and tan moonspots; swiss face marking; Horned; Blue eyed
Black, white, tan with chocolate and tan moonspots; swiss face marking; Horned; Blue eyed

Layaway Lucy                   DOB 4/8/21          MGR E9397

Black, white, tan; peacock pattern,  Chocolate, gray, tan moonspots.  Polled, Brown eyed.
Black, white, tan; peacock pattern, Chocolate, gray, tan moonspots. Polled, Brown eyed.

Petunia                            DOB 4/16/21          MGR E9394

Black, white; flowery pattern; Horned; Blue eyed.
Black, white; flowery pattern; Horned; Blue eyed.

Retail Reba                              4/14/22  MGR Pending

Brown, black, white, peacock pattern, with tan & silver moonspots; polled; blue eyed.
Brown, black, white, peacock pattern, with tan & silver moonspots; polled; blue eyed.

Goodwill Grace                        4/15/22 MGR Pending

Black, white, chocolate moonspots; polled; blue eyed.
Black, white, chocolate moonspots; polled; blue eyed.

Suzi Sunshine                       2/14/23  MGR Pending

Quad colored Light brown, tan, white, chocolate.  Peacock pattern and moonspotted.
Quad colored Light brown, tan, white, chocolate. Peacock pattern and moonspotted.